Tough Stuff.

It’s hard, isn’t it? This year. The sickness and death, and uncertainty, and injustice, and division, and upheaval of our routines and comfort.
As spiritually-minded people, we try to stay grounded. We remind ourselves of radical acceptance, and being open to the movement of Spirit. We become disoriented and lose balance, and then stumble back again to solid Center.
I’m not as good at it as I wish I were. Trust is a struggle sometimes. I find myself tender with grief and yearning. I hurt for people I am unable to help. And I get angry. A lot.
I need my community. My spiritual director held tears with me this morning as I realized just how much I long for face to face connection with my spiritual friends. When Zeitgeist companions get together, we sustain one another.
But we all live on Zoom now. So what of that?
Last night at Interfaith Contemplative Group, we listened to Raimon Panikkar speak of the metaphorical window of perspective through which we see the world. As my zoom screen was on “gallery “mode, I noted that we were in “Hollywood Squares“ visual windows as we engaged with one another. Our screens are our more literal windows onto much of the world... And that can be ok. It is my belief that we can’t really shift anywhere that Godde isn’t, so here we are... With technology, with one another, with The Beloved.
I wish we could begin a new year of “Exploring” (group spiritual direction program) getting to know one another in the same physical space. (I also wish Benedict Cumberbatch lived next door, and that I could hit “pause “on the space-time continuum in order to read books...) AND ALSO... I am very excited about the opportunities created by ZG Zoom (yeah, I’m just gonna pretend like we invented it.) We’re no longer limited by geography, and we can adapt the way we create ritual and connection. (Hey, we managed a Pachakuti Mesa traditional despacho in May!) 
Here’s why we are adapting - because it’s important. Spiritual community is what holds us up when the news pulls us down into darkness. Our spiritual friends reflect back to us Godde’s goodness when we face bad circumstances. Time together, even virtually, reminds us that we are whole in ourselves and as integral connected parts of The Cosmos. “Exploring” creates a shared path to walk together even as we begin apart.
For the individual journey that goes deeper than community, I rely on my spiritual director**. Spiritual direction is, in my opinion, mission critical for emergent, progressive religious/spiritual growth. And during 2020 (plus whatever the heck happens next), it is the firm place to stand.         
For people ensconced within a historical faith tradition, it is a sacred place to go toward your own anxieties, doubts, struggles, victories, pondering and poetic discoveries.
For those wounded by, or not aligned with traditional organized religious institutions, or wanting a broader Interfaith/inter-spiritual approach, spiritual direction provides a safe window of holding tensions, exploration, questioning, openness to follow your heart into the Heart of Mystery.
These times are tough. We are called to hold fast to our belief in perennial wisdom, the unity of all peoples, trust in Universal compassion and ultimate evolution towards Wholeness. We are tough. And tender. And everything in between. We are held in Love and by one another.
Come join us – welcome home.
 
 
** Can I brag about how lucky I am to have been working with Shaleen Camery-Hoggatt for nearly 20 years? I promise you this is true – I chose to skip a private yoga class with Russell Brand because I didn’t want to miss my appointment with Shaleen. She is that amazing!

​~debonee morgan, zg

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